The Ambassador of Italy to Malta, Giovanni Umberto De Vito, and the permanent secretary of the Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Fiona Formosa, have signed in Palazzo Parisio, in the presence of the Minister of the Foreign Affairs Carmelo Abela, the 15th Executive Cultural Cooperation Program for the years 2017-2019, so confirming the commitment to strengthen bilateral relations in sectors such as Culture and education. Among the objectives of the Program: cooperation among Universities, the promotion of the language, the dissemination of their respective cultures and training on the themes of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. 

“I am very pleased to be able to renew this Italian-Maltese collaboration protocol, a few weeks before the state visit by the President of the Republic, Mattarella, to Malta in mid-September” Ambassador De Vito said. “In the cultural sector, Italy enjoys a privileged position in Malta, also witnessed by the presence and the activities of the Italian Cultural Institute in the main square of the capital, right in front of the Presidential Palace. We now want to encourage further synergies in the field of science and research – the Ambassador added – and that is why we work to increase exchanges of university teachers and researchers, joint programs between Universities, specialized Institutes and Centers of higher education”. 

The Executive Program envisages granting scholarships in the sector of science, humanistic, arts, music, fine arts, design and restoration of the artistic and bibliographic heritage management. The direct collaboration between theatres and lyric institutions, the visits of experts and artists for festivals, training courses and conferences will also be promoted in view of two great events such as Valletta and Matera, European Capitals of Culture for the year 2018 and 2019 respectively.(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews